Freedom of Expression Tracker: Detained

Police interrogate presenter from private station Ts'enolo FM

Incident Ref:

LS1003/17-5768

Incident category:

detained

Date of incident:

10 March 2017

Perpetrator / Facilitator:

Police

Ts’enolo FM, a private radio station in Lesotho, had its political programs radio presenter, Rets’epile Maloi, brought in for questioning by a panel of four officers from Lesotho Mounted Police Service right after his morning program yesterday on the 9th March 2017.

The questioning took more than two hours. According to the explanation given to him by the police, the questioning was to discuss concerns arising from the conduct of his program, Fika Le Mohala, that airs on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m..

The concerns, among other things, included a segment on his program where guests with different political standpoints are called in simultaneously to debate burning issues. According to the police, this may spark violence in the general public over the arguments of the guests.

Police also pointed out that the listeners of Fika Le Mohala abuse the Speech Withdrawal principle by phoning in and deliberately uttering unpleasant words and later being told to withdraw – yet the message has been sent across.

The police warned Mr. Maloi that this should be the last time he is called in to talk about the content and conduct of his program.